Many students enter college with the expectation that they will spend some of their time socializing at parties. Being free for the first time can produce the desire to spend too much time having fun and not studying.
Alcohol consumption is often a significant aspect of college parties. Students under twenty-one years of age may not consume alcohol, but they will likely be exposed to alcohol quite often. Even students who do not drink alcohol can be punished for possessing or distributing alcohol. The consequences of these sanctions can be severe. Universities and colleges all have different codes of conduct that regulate student behavior both on-campus and off-campus.
Constructive possession happens when alcohol is discovered close to a student. Alcohol possession can adversely affect your academic career and your professional life. Violating a student code of conduct becomes a part of your academic record that will follow you years into the future.
As you apply to professional school, graduate school, or a job, your academic record will be scrutinized by admissions committees and hiring committees. An experienced student defense lawyer can help you assert your legal rights and protect your academic record. Contact K Altman Law today to schedule a consultation.
University Students and Alcohol
Universities and colleges create and enforce their own student handbooks and student codes of conduct. Specific actions are punished according to the rules set forth in these documents. Investigatory processes and sanctions are also outlined by the educational institution. The majority of universities and colleges regulate the possession and distribution of alcohol by students. Alcohol violations may occur both on-campus and off-campus. Many educational institutions also equate breaking a federal, state, or local law with violating the student code of conduct.
Universities and colleges do not investigate these laws, however. They examine whether a student violated the code of conduct. Disciplinary hearings do not occur in courthouses. University hearings do not provide you with the protections you would receive in a court of law. Hearsay may be admissible against you during a disciplinary hearing. Students must be careful when participating in disciplinary hearings. Retaining a student defense lawyer is one of the best ways to develop a strong case strategy and protect your legal rights.
Possible Sanctions for Student Code of Conduct Violations
Reviewing the student handbook and the student code of conduct is imperative if you are facing alcohol violations as an undergraduate student. You need to understand how your university or college sanctions alcohol violations. The regulations and processes outlined in these documents will determine the nature of your relationship with the university.
A university or college may decide that a student violated the student code of conduct. If so, the sanction will typically be commensurate with the infraction. The specific sanctions applicable to your case will be found in your university’s or college’s student code of conduct. The following are some of the most common general sanctions imposed by colleges and universities:
- Expulsion
- Suspension
- Dismissal
- Losing on-campus housing privileges
- Losing financial aid, including scholarships
- Disciplinary probation
- Formal reprimand
- Fines
- Alcohol awareness classes
- Substance abuse seminars
A university or college may impose several sanctions upon finding that a student violated the student code of conduct. Students on athletic scholarships risk losing the ability to play their sport and pay their tuition. Alcohol violations should be taken seriously by all students who risk losing these important privileges.
If you apply to medical school or law school you will have to disclose that you are responsible for committing an alcohol violation. Gaining admission to graduate school is difficult, and these infractions may harm your ability to pursue your chosen career path. A student code of conduct violation may weaken your application.
A Student Defense Lawyer Can Help You
Many universities and colleges will permit a student advisor to participate in disciplinary hearings. Specific institutions may mandate that an advisor be someone associated with the university or college. If this is the case, it is still in your best interest to retain a student defense lawyer.
After working diligently to gain admission to college, undertaking the costs of tuition, and moving to your university or college, it will serve you best to remain in school and earn your academic degree. Retaining a student defense lawyer is highly advisable because your entire future is at risk of suffering irremediable damage.
A student defense lawyer can provide you with assistance regarding the arguments you present during hearings and other formal proceedings. Also, an experienced student defense lawyer knows when a university or college is violating its own internal procedures as well as state and federal law. A student defense lawyer can also negotiate with the institution’s general counsel to help you seek a positive result.
A student defense lawyer doesn’t have to be physically present during a hearing to help you protect your academic career and your future.
